Why Spell Casters Are Sexy
When first being introduced to DnD you will find a variety of classes that are presented before you and at first what draws attention to you might be something that suits your sexual orientation, masculine or feminine if you will. Most women might be more drawn...
New DM Handbook: My Philosophy on Mechanics
Introduction
Integral to this series is my initial philosophy on how to run my D&D games. In all honesty, I have no 
idea how to run a game without breaking it. For a vast majority of it, I’m not going to stray very far from the books, but I also recognize that 5E isn’t perfect, and it doesn’t fulfill all of my needs. As an example, I intend on being somewhat flexible with the Backgrounds, as is necessary, but really only if none of the preexisting ones don’t fit the character concept. Beyond that, my DM cornerstone is going to be if it’s logical.
Does it make sense?
My foremost directive when applying any decision or rule is if, as I just said, it’s logical based on game mechanics, my lore, and whether it makes sense. As an example, according to the rules, the Ranger Beast Master must use an action to give their Beast Companion (different than a pet) a command whenever they want them to perform an action. That follows the rules of how a Beast Master works, but it doesn’t make any sense. If every round is six seconds long, that means that the Beast Master makes a command, the Beast Companion follows the order, then sits back down without any command to stay. 
When was the last time an attack dog stopped attacking before the target is dead or down without a command to do so? Common sense would dictate that the Beast Companion would continue their last order until their target is dead or a new order is given. Without any kind of real-world experience, the balance in my mind is that the PC has to manage the Ranger and the Companion. If they’re not careful, they could be put in a situation that one or both are at risk to die. A smart DM would maneuver them to force them to choose between their Ranger and their Companion. That makes the most sense to me.
Logical Settings
“Dinner Party” – Out of The Box D&D Encounters #31 (Truth Serum & Short Term Madness in a Tavern)
Introduction: The Dungeon Master’s Guide is full of tables, information, and colorful references. However, an encounter idea can come from a simple reference to an item, property, or game mechanic. In this case, I stumbled upon the Sample Poisons listing while looking up Short...
What DnD Isn’t
Let me just start out with saying that DnD is probably not what you think it is. When people find out I play DnD they usually almost always ask me the same questions. As an adult woman who doesn't seem like the typical "nerd" they become...
It’s time for a 5th Edition D&D Unearthed Arcana book
[caption id="attachment_14051" align="alignright" width="430"] The original Unearthed Arcana book by Gary Gygax for First Edition Dungeons & Dragons.[/caption] Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons has been around for more than a couple of years now. Since its inception, it has been obvious the game’s publisher Wizards of...
“Fire for Effect” – Out of the Box D&D Encounters #30
Introduction: One trope in D&D that needs work is the concept of the encounter as a “one thing shows up and does one other thing.” There should be no reason why, unless otherwise specified, that multiple monsters of similar alignments and motivations would not work together.
“The Dogs of War” – Out of The Box D&D Encounters # 29
Introduction: This game is filled with assumptions. Perhaps that’s because our life is filled with the same. We assume when we see how a person is dressed that they have a level of intelligence or wealth. We assume that someone may have a specific level...
D&Dize – Dr. Strange Sorcerer Supreme
MONK: Way of the Four Elements
I chose monk because of the martial training that he’d need to use to understand how to unlock his chakra’s and the like. Also, some of the abilities that that he has are magic’s that come from within him, hence the use of “ki”. Remember in the Marvel Superheroes RPG where magic was divided into:
- (P) Personal = magic that is without incantation, somatic, or material components, but taxes that user. Ki works well for this.
- (U) Universal = Power that comes from using the residual magic’s around the area. They require free use of hands and speech and possibly a component. I like Wizard for this.
- (D) Dimensional = These abilities require the entreating of a cosmic entity who is “composed” of magic, who can use “all” magic as personal magic because, unlike us, they are inherently composed of magic. Anytime Dr. Strange would call on the Hoary Hosts of Hoggoth or the Flames of the Faltine, or the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, and so on, these would be Dimensional spells and they take just a little longer to cast but they are tremendously powerful and they require a full incantation AND the use of somatic gesture AND good-standing with the entity being called upon. I like Warlock for this.
Level 18 as a monk is insane, I know, especially for a guy who doesn’t often engage in hand-to-hand. I rectified this by making his strength and dex low so that, no matter how much damage he can do with his hands, he has a low chance of hitting. Even if he does hit and do all that damage, fine, it’s magical damage anyway at that level of monk, so it can be passed off as a “contact spell”.
I like 18 for his Monk level because all the benefits that you get from Monk at 18th level, he actually has. In the comics, he battled Mistress Death and is immune to all earthly disease and poisons and he is now extremely long-lived. Just as his mentor, the Ancient One (who lived for 500 years), Strange can be killed, but he will age at a very retarded rate and cannot be affected by aging spells. He can dispel magic’s, magically speak any known language, and the Deflect Missiles ability can be explained by one of his eldritch shields. Lastly, for Monk, is the level 18 ability to attain the astral form without spell components. Yeah, that’s him.
WIZARD: Abjuration
I really like Wizard for his Universal spells because they fit perfectly. It’s based on his intelligence and if it’s a high or low magical realm then his spells will be affected accordingly. More than this, Dr. Strange is quite powerful, but whether he outclasses his opponent or is outclassed, like his earlier battles with Baron Mordo or with entities like Dormammu, he usually wins by out-thinking his opponent. He is always able to give himself the time to defeat an opponent by holding them of with his defensive spells until he finds the perfect spell to take out his opponent non-lethally. This is why I chose Abjuration for
“Council of Three”- Out of The Box D&D Encounters # 28
Introduction:
SONY DSC
In defense of Fifth Edition Dungeons & Dragons and its streamlined approach
Several Dungeons & Dragons miniature figures. The grid mat underneath uses one-inch squares. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Considering for decades Dungeons & Dragons has been the most recognizable name of all tabletop role-playing games, and considering the popularity of Fifth Edition D&D, it might seem the game itself needs no defending. However, from time to time I have noticed online forums with various concerns or complaints raised against the game.
The most common complaint I’ve read is that in Fifth Edition a player cannot make the type of character he or she wants, that more rules are needed in order for there to be more character diversity, that currently only similar, cookie-cutter characters can be created because of the limited number of classes and rules.
I understand. I disagree, but I understand.
“Jailbreak” – Out of the Box #27 D&D Encounters
The Formaggio di Fernando Caper- D&D 5e, SRD Compatible Adventure
The Formaggio di Fernando Caper
D&D 5e, SRD compatible adventure.
Written with thanks to Scott Garibay for his Five Page Tabletop RPG Adventure Design
Launch:
Two large towns have been in hot competition with each other for commerce and farmland. Either could overshadow the other in the next couple years and become full cities. Rumors run wild and it is great time to be a merchant or caravan leader with roads in good repair and banditry near nonexistent as the towns outdo each other to attract business. While journeying from one town to another, and they are about one more day from their destination, the adventuring party makes camp. They are awakened in the morning by a cavalry group that outnumbers them two to one. Unfortunately for the adventurers they are in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The cavalry members are all paladins or clerics and are under orders to search the countryside for a spy. They do not have a clear description but do know he is with a group. If any character in the group has a strong background story like a Folk Hero or Noble or a solid alibi, the cavalry members will relax, but insist on following orders and will “escort” them to their superiors for questioning. They will be “guests” until the spy has been determined, which depending on behavior could mean anything from a jail cell to an expensive suite with personal guards. It should be clear the characters are implicated and assumed to be the spy and cohorts.
Locations:
- The Campsite (Where the adventurers bedded down to rest before finishing the last day of their journey)
- The Outpost (Where the cavalry have set up a base camp with a commander’s tent)
- The Commander’s Tent (The Adventurers will be brought here first to be searched and questioned about the spy)
- The High Lord’s Estate (A training grounds and place where the Adventurers will be detained)
- The Club and The Flask (A disreputable tavern and known hangout for less law abiding folk and out of work mercenaries)
- The Red Lance (A fancy brothel where the spy lost his cover)
- Black Stone Pastures (Dairy farm blackmailed into being cover for the spy)
Blast from the Past: Dungeons & Dragons Tomb of Horrors
[caption id="attachment_13611" align="alignright" width="340"] 1978's Tomb of Horrors[/caption] [caption id="attachment_13613" align="alignright" width="336"] 1981's Tomb of Horrors[/caption] Few words raise the ire of long-time Dungeons & Dragons aficionados more than “Tomb of Horrors.” The words “Fourth edition” come to mind, but that’s fairly recent and probably somewhat unfair...
“Ribbet, Ribbet, WHOOSH” – Out of the Box #26 D&D Encounters
It’s All Right for Your RPG Characters to Change
Recently I’ve run across two situations as a Game Master I believe are worth sharing with a wider audience. First, one of my players came to me concerned he had not played his character’s personality correctly during a recent fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons session. Second, a player in a different campaign (one in which I play and am not GM) came to me worried his character had done something out of character.
